US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1559

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001559 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR LBONO, NEA/PI FOR TWINCUP, EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, PHUM, XF, EZ 
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT CREATION OF FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE 
BUT UNABLE TO FULLY FUND 
 
REF: STATE 190583 
 
1.(U) Action request - see para 4. 
 
2.(U) In response to reftel demarche, Miloslav Stasek, 
Director of the Middle East and Africa Department at the 
Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed Poloff on Nov 2 
that the Ministry supports the Foundation for the Future 
politically, but is not in a position to contribute the 
minimum required amount of $1 million.  Stasek explained that 
the full Ministry budget for similar projects is only $2 
million.  He suggested that the Ministry could possibly be 
able to afford a donation of $250,000.  However, any amount 
would need to be approved by the Czech government at a 
cabinet session, which would not be possible before next 
week.  Thus based on both timing and funding level, Stasek 
and Poloff agreed that Czech participation at the November 11 
Forum for the Future meeting in Bahrain appeared unlikely. 
 
3. (U) Stasek emphasized continued Czech desire to 
participate in the Foundation for the Future, within its 
financial capabilities, and requested embassy advise him of 
appropriate next steps. 
 
4. (U) Action request: please provide guidance for us to pass 
to Czech MFA on next steps in terms of (a) suitability of the 
notional $250,000 donation, and (b) what this would mean for 
the CR in terms of their participation in the Foundation for 
the Future. 
CABANISS